Jan 17, 2014

Emerald Coast Growers Founders RetireSource: Emerald Coast Growers

Emerald Coast Growers founders and longtime industry members Dave and Wyona Babikow officially retired from the business as of December 2013. Dave and Wyona have left the business, located in Pensacola, Fla., to sons Paul and Mark Babikow, daughter-in-law Maureen Babikow, daughters Cheri Markowitz and Bonnie Mietling and brother-in-law Albert Mueller. Dave and his family have been in the industry for quite some time, since his grandfather William E. Babikow emigrated from Russia and began growing produce and eventually cut flowers for the Baltimore market in 1875. In the early ‘80s, Dave and Wyona, along with sons Paul and Mark, established Emerald Coast Growers as an ornamental grass company. The company has since expanded and now employs more than 125 workers, including 12 family members. For more information on Emerald Coast Growers, visit www.ecgrowers.com.